Aspen Aspen Travel Guide: Best Hotels, Restaurants & Experiences

Silver-boom grandeur meets mountain-modern polish at this 1889 landmark, where Jerome Wheeler once installed Aspen's first elevator and pioneering electric lights. Todd-Avery Lenahan's 2012 redesign gave the interiors a sleek alpine sensibility, while rooms averaging 525 square feet rank among the town's most spacious. Post-ski rituals unfold at outdoor Jacuzzis and a basement spa specializing in botanical treatments—a retreat suited to travelers seeking historic character with contemporary comfort.

Ski-in/ski-out access to the largest of Aspen's four mountains anchors this 173-suite property, where Kelly Wearstler's modern-Zen interiors—bare wood refined rather than rustic, antlers deployed sparingly—replace the expected Alpine lodge formula. Jean-Michel Gathy's guest quarters range from studios to four-bedroom residences. A curious touch: poolside cabanas, a warm-climate concept that proves unexpectedly apt against Colorado snowfields.

Chef Barclay Dodge's one-starred Bosq operates in a dimly lit, atmospheric space where foraging and fermentation drive a customizable tasting format of four or more courses. Hand-picked spruce tips and butter from local cooperative dairy cows anchor the menu, while New England lobster takes on mountain character grilled over juniper wood. The loquacious staff and serious wine list complete an intimate evening.

Silver-hued and slope-adjacent inside The Little Nell, Element 47 honors Aspen's mining heritage with a 20,000-bottle wine collection and executive chef Matt Zubrod's market-driven cuisine. Ingredients shift daily—sometimes hourly—based on what arrives freshest, shaping dishes of roast duck, lobster, and Wellington built on locally sourced game and sustainable seafood. The sleek, contemporary dining room suits evening occasions that warrant deliberation over both plate and pour.

Thailand's celebrated RAKxa retreat chose Aspen for its first international location, occupying 14,000 square feet within The St. Regis with 17 treatment rooms and dual wet lounges. The altitude-conscious menu features oxygen-infused facials and trigger point massages, while hot and cold plunge pools accelerate post-ski recovery. Oxygen stations throughout the relaxation lounge address mountain acclimation, and Rowland+Broughton's rugged-chic interiors layer natural stone and wood with plush modern furnishings.